Friday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Proverbs: 19:24-29

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

PSALM

Psalm 19

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard,

their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.

Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,

it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.

Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Joshua 2:15-24

Verse 15. Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city. Verse 16. “Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.” Verse 17. The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear Verse 18. unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house. Verse 19. If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads. Verse 20. And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” Verse 21. “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Verse 22. So the spies went out into the hill country and stayed there three days, until their pursuers had returned without finding them, having searched all along the road. Verse 23. Then the two men started back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the river. So they came to Joshua son of Nun and reported all that had happened to them. Verse 24. “The LORD has surely delivered the entire land into our hands,” they said to Joshua. “Indeed, all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of us.”

PSALM

Psalm 116:1-9

I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice — my appeal for mercy.

Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.

The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish of Sheol overcame me; I was confronted by trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, deliver my soul!”

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

The LORD preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me.

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

SECOND READING

James 2:17-26

Verse 17. So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. Verse 18. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. Verse 19. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that — and shudder. Verse 20. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? Verse 21. Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Verse 22. You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. Verse 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. Verse 24. As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone. Verse 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route? Verse 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.